Data platform with unified privileges

ABSTRACT

A data platform for developing and deploying a user application within a unified security context. The data platform authorizes a first user to use an editor to access source code of a user application based on security policies of a security context and authorizes the first user to use an application and data manager to set usage privileges for a second user to use the user application based on the security policies of the security context. To provide the user application to the second user, the data platform deploys the user application by instantiating a User Defined Function (UDF) server and an application engine of the UDF server within the security context, instantiating the user application as an application of the application engine within the security context, and authorizing access by the user application to databased on the security policies of the security context.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/366,266, filed Jun. 13, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples of the disclosure relate generally to databases and, more specifically, to database security.

BACKGROUND

Data platforms are widely used for data storage and data access in computing and communication contexts. With respect to architecture, a data platform could be an on-premises data platform, a network-based data platform (e.g., a cloud-based data platform), a combination of the two, and/or include another type of architecture. With respect to type of data processing, a data platform could implement online transactional processing (OLTP), online analytical processing (OLAP), a combination of the two, and/or another type of data processing. Moreover, a data platform could be or include a relational database management system (RDBMS) and/or one or more other types of database management systems.

Providers of data on a data platform may desire a way to conveniently secure their data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example computing environment that includes a network-based data platform in communication with a cloud storage provider system, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a compute service manager, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of an execution platform, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a deployment diagram of a computing environment for providing an application, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D are interaction and data flow diagrams of a computing environment for providing a user application, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a deployment diagram for a computing environment of a data platform providing a unified security context for a development and deployment of a user application, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an activity diagram illustrating a method of developing and deploying a user application in a unified security context by a data platform, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions may be executed for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There are many existing solutions for building applications that access data on a data platform, but some of them involve different permission boundaries for writing code for the application, deploying code, running an application, updating the application, and using the application. These gaps across security boundaries are places where mistakes can be made or where authorization materials are stored for interacting with systems in multiple locations. For example, a user may store authorization materials in a continuous integration job in order to push built artifacts to an artifact management system. Even in simple systems where application creation and usage often happen in the same organization, credentials to the data platform are stored. By providing a combination of: an editor for editing and creating applications within the data platform; methodologies for supplying objects as native database objects that run as User Interface (UI) applications; methodologies for packaging and sharing applications; and methodologies for sharing data across accounts of the data platform, operating within a same security context, a user is able to create, deploy and execute applications without storing in an off-platform location credentials or other authorization materials.

In some examples, development, operations, and end users share the same security context having unified privileges that define the security boundaries of the security context. Various components of the system can work directly on the data platform. This provides one authorization boundary across aspects of a life cycle of a user application. Operations such as distributing a user application can operate within a native application framework of the data platform to reduce an amount of additional security boundaries. As a result, a user may avoid saving in an off-platform datastore authentication or authorization materials for integrating systems. Any time security credentials are stored for operations such as pushing code between systems, pushing built artifacts between systems, starting up compute resources, or operating a running system, there are potential weaknesses. These weaknesses include the possibility of authorization materials being stolen and the possibility of authorization materials expiring and causing operational systems to stop working until they are replaced.

In some examples, a full lifecycle of an application from conception to delivery is managed within a unified security context on the data platform. As the work on the artifact throughout the lifecycle of the artifact is stored on the data platform, and a distribution build of the application is shared using an application and data sharing manager of the data platform, a single security boundary is provided.

In some examples, the data platform provides an application editing surface that writes files to datastores within the data platform to store source code for an application.

In some examples, an interactive editing session of source code of an application is provided by connecting to a user application in a form of a secured web application object provided by the data platform.

In some examples, an interactive editing session of source code of an application is provided using an editor provided by the data platform.

In some examples, promoting development code to production is achieved through modifying a user application or datastore storing source code of the user application to change source code which is currently attached to a default version used by the user applications. End users hit the user application end-point where their authentication context is used for launching the user application and the user application runs in the security context already configured within the data platform.

In some examples, a data platform for developing and deploying a user application within a unified security context authorizes a first user to use an editor to access source code of a user application based on security policies of a security context and authorizes the first user to use an application and data manager to set usage privileges for a second user to use the user application based on the security policies of the security context. To provide the user application to the second user, the data platform deploys the user application by instantiating a User Defined Function (UDF) server and an application engine of the UDF server within the security context, instantiating the user application as an application of the application engine within the security context, and authorizing access by the user application to data of the data platform based on the security policies of the security context.

In some examples, a data platform includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, the data platform authorizes a first user to use an editor to access source code of a user application based on security policies of a security context and authorizes the first user to use an application and data manager to set usage privileges for a second user to use the user application based on the security policies of the security context. The data platform provides the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context by instantiating a User Defined Function (UDF) server within the security context, instantiating an application engine of the UDF server within the security context, instantiating the user application as an application of the application engine within the security context, and authorizing access by the user application to data of the data platform based on the security policies of the security context.

Reference will now be made in detail to specific examples for carrying out the inventive subject matter. Examples of these specific examples are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter. It will be understood that these examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the illustrated examples. On the contrary, they are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example computing environment 100 that includes a data platform 102 in communication with a client device 112, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure. To avoid obscuring the inventive subject matter with unnecessary detail, various functional components that are not germane to conveying an understanding of the inventive subject matter have been omitted from FIG. 1 . However, a skilled artisan will readily recognize that various additional functional components may be included as part of the computing environment 100 to facilitate additional functionality that is not specifically described herein.

As shown, the data platform 102 comprises a database storage 106, a compute service manager 104, an execution platform 110, and a metadata database 114. The database storage 106 comprises a plurality of computing machines and provides on-demand computer system resources such as data storage and computing power to the data platform 102. As shown, the database storage 106 comprises multiple data storage devices, namely data storage device 1 108 a to data storage device N 108 d. In some examples, the data storage devices 1 to N are cloud-based storage devices located in one or more geographic locations. For example, the data storage devices 1 to N may be part of a public cloud infrastructure or a private cloud infrastructure. The data storage devices 1 to N may be hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), storage clusters, Amazon S3™ storage systems or any other data storage technology. Additionally, the database storage 106 may include distributed file systems (e.g., Hadoop Distributed File Systems (HDFS)), object storage systems, and the like.

The data platform 102 is used for reporting and analysis of integrated data from one or more disparate sources including the storage devices 1 to N within the database storage 106. The data platform 102 hosts and provides data reporting and analysis services to multiple customer accounts. Administrative users can create and manage identities (e.g., users, roles, and groups) and use privileges to allow or deny access to the identities to resources and services. Generally, the data platform 102 maintains numerous customer accounts for numerous respective customers. The data platform 102 maintains each customer account in one or more storage devices of the database storage 106. Moreover, the data platform 102 may maintain metadata associated with the customer accounts in the metadata database 114. Each customer account includes multiple data objects with examples including users, roles, privileges, a datastores or other data locations (herein termed a “stage” or “stages”), and the like.

The compute service manager 104 coordinates and manages operations of the data platform 102. The compute service manager 104 also performs query optimization and compilation as well as managing clusters of compute services that provide compute resources (also referred to as “virtual warehouses”). The compute service manager 104 can support any number and type of clients such as end users providing data storage and retrieval requests, system administrators managing the systems and methods described herein, and other components/devices that interact with compute service manager 104. As an example, the compute service manager 104 is in communication with the client device 112. The client device 112 can be used by a user of one of the multiple customer accounts supported by the data platform 102 to interact with and utilize the functionality of the data platform 102. In some examples, the compute service manager 104 does not receive any direct communications from the client device 112 and only receives communications concerning jobs from a queue within the data platform 102.

The compute service manager 104 is also coupled to metadata database 114. The metadata database 114 stores data pertaining to various functions and aspects associated with the data platform 102 and its users. In some examples, the metadata database 114 includes a summary of data stored in remote data storage systems as well as data available from a local cache. Additionally, the metadata database 114 may include information regarding how data is organized in remote data storage systems (e.g., the database storage 106) and the local caches. The metadata database 114 allows systems and services to determine whether a piece of data needs to be accessed without loading or accessing the actual data from a storage device.

The compute service manager 104 is further coupled to the execution platform 110, which provides multiple computing resources that execute various data storage and data retrieval tasks. In some examples, the compute service manager 104 communicates with the execution platform 110 concerning jobs and tasks using a queue within the data platform 102. This isolates the operations of the execution platform 110 and the client device 112. The execution platform 110 is coupled to the database storage 106. The execution platform 110 comprises a plurality of compute nodes. A set of processes on a compute node executes a query plan compiled by the compute service manager 104. The set of processes can include: a first process to execute the query plan; a second process to monitor and delete micro-partition files using a least recently used (LRU) policy and implement an out of memory (OOM) error mitigation process; a third process that extracts health information from process logs and status to send back to the compute service manager 104; a fourth process to establish communication with the compute service manager 104 after a system boot; and a fifth process to handle communication with a compute cluster for a given job provided by the compute service manager 104 and to communicate information back to the compute service manager 104 and other compute nodes of the execution platform 110.

In some examples, communication links between elements of the computing environment 100 are implemented via one or more data communication networks. These data communication networks may utilize any communication protocol and any type of communication medium. In some examples, the data communication networks are a combination of two or more data communication networks (or sub-networks) coupled to one another. In alternate examples, these communication links are implemented using any type of communication medium and any communication protocol.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the data storage devices data storage device 1 108 a to data storage device N 108 d are decoupled from the computing resources associated with the execution platform 110. This architecture supports dynamic changes to the data platform 102 based on the changing data storage/retrieval needs as well as the changing needs of the users and systems. The support of dynamic changes allows the data platform 102 to scale quickly in response to changing demands on the systems and components within the data platform 102. The decoupling of the computing resources from the data storage devices supports the storage of large amounts of data without requiring a corresponding large amount of computing resources. Similarly, this decoupling of resources supports a significant increase in the computing resources utilized at a particular time without requiring a corresponding increase in the available data storage resources.

The compute service manager 104, metadata database 114, execution platform 110, and database storage 106 are shown in FIG. 1 as individual discrete components. However, each of the compute service manager 104, metadata database 114, execution platform 110, and database storage 106 may be implemented as a distributed system (e.g., distributed across multiple systems/platforms at multiple geographic locations). Additionally, each of the compute service manager 104, metadata database 114, execution platform 110, and database storage 106 can be scaled up or down (independently of one another) depending on changes to the requests received and the changing needs of the data platform 102. Thus, in the described examples, the data platform 102 is dynamic and supports regular changes to meet the current data processing needs.

During operation, the data platform 102 processes multiple jobs determined by the compute service manager 104. These jobs are scheduled and managed by the compute service manager 104 to determine when and how to execute the job. For example, the compute service manager 104 may divide the job into multiple discrete tasks and may determine what data is used to execute each of the multiple discrete tasks. The compute service manager 104 may assign each of the multiple discrete tasks to one or more nodes of the execution platform 110 to process the task. The compute service manager 104 may determine what data is used to process a task and further determine which nodes within the execution platform 110 are best suited to process the task. Some nodes may have already cached the data needed to process the task and, therefore, be a good candidate for processing the task. Metadata stored in the metadata database 114 assists the compute service manager 104 in determining which nodes in the execution platform 110 have already cached at least a portion of the data needed to process the task. One or more nodes in the execution platform 110 process the task using data cached by the nodes and, if necessary, data retrieved from the database storage 106. It is desirable to retrieve as much data as possible from caches within the execution platform 110 because the retrieval speed is typically faster than retrieving data from the database storage 106.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the computing environment 100 separates the execution platform 110 from the database storage 106. In this arrangement, the processing resources and cache resources in the execution platform 110 operate independently of the database storage devices data storage device 1 108 a to data storage device N 108 d in the database storage 106. Thus, the computing resources and cache resources are not restricted to a specific one of the data storage device 1 108 a, data storage device 2 108 b, and data storage device 3 108 c to data storage device N 108 d. Instead, computing resources and cache resources may retrieve data from, and store data to, any of the data storage resources in the database storage 106.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the compute service manager 104, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2 , the compute service manager 104 includes an access manager 202 and a key manager 204 coupled to a data storage device 206. Access manager 202 handles authentication and authorization tasks for the systems described herein. Key manager 204 manages storage and authentication of keys used during authentication and authorization tasks. For example, access manager 202 and key manager 204 manage the keys used to access data stored in remote storage devices (e.g., data storage devices in database storage 106). As used herein, the remote storage devices may also be referred to as “persistent storage devices” or “shared storage devices.” The access manager 202 can also authorize access to components and objects of a unified security context based on privileges specified in security policies 232 as more fully described in reference to FIG. 5 .

A request processing service 208 manages received data storage requests and data retrieval requests (e.g., jobs to be performed on database data). For example, the request processing service 208 may determine the data necessary to process a received query (e.g., a data storage request or data retrieval request). The data may be stored in a cache within the execution platform 110 or in a data storage device in database storage 106.

A management console service 210 supports access to various systems and processes by administrators and other system managers. Additionally, the management console service 210 may receive a request to execute a job and monitor the workload on the system.

The compute service manager 104 also includes a job compiler 212, a job optimizer 214, and a job executor 216. The job compiler 212 parses a job into multiple discrete tasks and generates the execution code for each of the multiple discrete tasks. The job optimizer 214 determines a method to execute the multiple discrete tasks based on the data being processed. The job optimizer 214 also handles various data pruning operations and other data optimization techniques to improve the speed and efficiency of executing the job. The job executor 216 executes the execution code for jobs received from a queue or determined by the compute service manager 104.

A job scheduler and coordinator 218 sends received jobs to the appropriate services or systems for compilation, optimization, and dispatch to the execution platform 110. For example, jobs may be prioritized and processed in that prioritized order. In some examples, the job scheduler and coordinator 218 determines a priority for internal jobs that are scheduled by the compute service manager 104 with other “outside” jobs such as user queries that may be scheduled by other systems in the database but may utilize the same processing resources in the execution platform 110. In some examples, the job scheduler and coordinator 218 identifies or assigns particular nodes in the execution platform 110 to process particular tasks. A virtual warehouse manager 220 manages the operation of multiple virtual warehouses implemented in the execution platform 110. As discussed below, each virtual warehouse includes multiple execution nodes that each include a cache and a processor.

Additionally, the compute service manager 104 includes a configuration and metadata manager 222, which manages the information related to the data stored in the remote data storage devices and in the local caches (e.g., the caches in execution platform 110). The configuration and metadata manager 222 uses the metadata to determine which data micro-partitions are to be accessed to retrieve data for processing a particular task or job. A monitor and workload analyzer 224 oversees processes performed by the compute service manager 104 and manages the distribution of tasks (e.g., workload) across the virtual warehouses and execution nodes in the execution platform 110. The monitor and workload analyzer 224 also redistributes tasks, as needed, based on changing workloads throughout the data platform 102 and may further redistribute tasks based on a user (e.g., “external”) query workload that may also be processed by the execution platform 110. The configuration and metadata manager 222 and the monitor and workload analyzer 224 are coupled to a data storage device 226. Data storage device 226 in FIG. 2 represents any data storage device within the data platform 102. For example, data storage device 226 may represent caches in execution platform 110, storage devices in database storage 106, or any other storage device.

The compute service manager 104 validates communication from an execution platform (e.g., the execution platform 110) to validate that the content and context of that communication are consistent with the task(s) known to be assigned to the execution platform. For example, an instance of the execution platform executing a query A should not be allowed to request access to data-source D (e.g., data storage device 226) that is not relevant to query A. Similarly, a given execution node (e.g., execution node 1 304 a) may communicate with another execution node (e.g., execution node 2 304 b), while being disallowed from communicating with a third execution node (e.g., execution node 1 316 a) and any such illicit communication can be recorded (e.g., in a log or other location). Also, the information stored on a given execution node is restricted to data relevant to the current query and any other data is unusable, rendered so by destruction or encryption where the key is unavailable.

The compute service manager 104 further includes a data explorer 228 used by users to access database objects stored in the database storage 106 as more fully described in reference to FIG. 5 .

The compute service manager 104 further includes an application and data manager 230 that allows users to specify which other entities may share usage of a user application and may access and/or modify data of database objects as more fully described in reference to FIG. 5 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of the execution platform 110, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3 , the execution platform 110 includes multiple virtual warehouses, including virtual warehouse 1 302 a, and virtual warehouse 2 302 b to virtual warehouse N 302 c. Each virtual warehouse includes multiple execution nodes that each includes a data cache and a processor. The virtual warehouses can execute multiple tasks in parallel by using the multiple execution nodes. As discussed herein, the execution platform 110 can add new virtual warehouses and drop existing virtual warehouses in real time based on the current processing needs of the systems and users. This flexibility allows the execution platform 110 to quickly deploy large amounts of computing resources when needed without being forced to continue paying for those computing resources when they are no longer needed. The virtual warehouses can access data from any data storage device (e.g., any storage device in database storage 106).

Although each virtual warehouse shown in FIG. 3 includes three execution nodes, a particular virtual warehouse may include any number of execution nodes. Further, the number of execution nodes in a virtual warehouse is dynamic, such that new execution nodes are created when additional demand is present, and existing execution nodes are deleted when they are no longer necessary.

Each virtual warehouse is capable of accessing any of the data storage devices 1 to N shown in FIG. 1 . Thus, the virtual warehouses are not necessarily assigned to a specific data storage device 1 to N and, instead, can access data from any of the data storage devices 1 to N within the database storage 106. Similarly, each of the execution nodes shown in FIG. 3 can access data from any of the data storage devices 1 to N. In some examples, a particular virtual warehouse or a particular execution node may be temporarily assigned to a specific data storage device, but the virtual warehouse or execution node may later access data from any other data storage device.

In the example of FIG. 3 , virtual warehouse 1 302 a includes a plurality of execution nodes as exemplified by execution node 1 304 a, execution node 2 304 b, and execution node N 304 c. Execution node 1 304 a includes cache 1 306 a and a processor 1 308 a. Execution node 2 304 b includes cache 2 306 b and processor 2 308 b. Execution node N 304 c includes cache N 306 c and processor N 308 c. Each execution node 1 to N is associated with processing one or more data storage and/or data retrieval tasks. For example, a virtual warehouse may handle data storage and data retrieval tasks associated with an internal service, such as a clustering service, a materialized view refresh service, a file compaction service, a storage procedure service, or a file upgrade service. In other implementations, a particular virtual warehouse may handle data storage and data retrieval tasks associated with a particular data storage system or a particular category of data.

Similar to virtual warehouse 1 302 a discussed above, virtual warehouse 2 302 b includes a plurality of execution nodes as exemplified by execution node 1 310 a, execution node 2 310 b, and execution node N 310 c. Execution node 1 310 a includes cache 1 312 a and processor 1 314 a. Execution node 2 310 b includes cache 2 312 b and processor 2 314 b. Execution node N 310 c includes cache N 312 c and processor N 314 c. Additionally, virtual warehouse N 302 c includes a plurality of execution nodes as exemplified by execution node 1 316 a, execution node 2 316 b, and execution node N 316 c. Execution node 1 316 a includes cache 1 318 a and processor 1 320 a. Execution node 2 316 b includes cache 2 318 b and processor 2 320 b. Execution node N 316 c includes cache N 318 c and processor N 320 c.

In some examples, the execution nodes shown in FIG. 3 are stateless with respect to the data the execution nodes are caching. For example, these execution nodes do not store or otherwise maintain state information about the execution node or the data being cached by a particular execution node. Thus, in the event of an execution node failure, the failed node can be transparently replaced by another node. Since there is no state information associated with the failed execution node, the new (replacement) execution node can easily replace the failed node without concern for recreating a particular state.

Although the execution nodes shown in FIG. 3 each includes one data cache and one processor, alternate examples may include execution nodes containing any number of processors and any number of caches. Additionally, the caches may vary in size among the different execution nodes. The caches shown in FIG. 3 store, in the local execution node, data that was retrieved from one or more data storage devices in database storage 106. Thus, the caches reduce or eliminate the bottleneck problems occurring in platforms that consistently retrieve data from remote storage systems. Instead of repeatedly accessing data from the remote storage devices, the systems and methods described herein access data from the caches in the execution nodes, which is significantly faster and avoids the bottleneck problem discussed above. In some examples, the caches are implemented using high-speed memory devices that provide fast access to the cached data. Each cache can store data from any of the storage devices in the database storage 106.

Further, the cache resources and computing resources may vary between different execution nodes. For example, one execution node may contain significant computing resources and minimal cache resources, making the execution node useful for tasks that require significant computing resources. Another execution node may contain significant cache resources and minimal computing resources, making this execution node useful for tasks that require caching of large amounts of data. Yet another execution node may contain cache resources providing faster input-output operations, useful for tasks that require fast scanning of large amounts of data. In some examples, the cache resources and computing resources associated with a particular execution node are determined when the execution node is created, based on the expected tasks to be performed by the execution node.

Additionally, the cache resources and computing resources associated with a particular execution node may change over time based on changing tasks performed by the execution node. For example, an execution node may be assigned more processing resources if the tasks performed by the execution node become more processor-intensive. Similarly, an execution node may be assigned more cache resources if the tasks performed by the execution node require a larger cache capacity.

Although virtual warehouses 1, 2, and N are associated with the same execution platform 110, the virtual warehouses may be implemented using multiple computing systems at multiple geographic locations. For example, virtual warehouse 1 can be implemented by a computing system at a first geographic location, while virtual warehouses 2 and N are implemented by another computing system at a second geographic location. In some examples, these different computing systems are cloud-based computing systems maintained by one or more different entities.

Additionally, each virtual warehouse as shown in FIG. 3 has multiple execution nodes. The multiple execution nodes associated with each virtual warehouse may be implemented using multiple computing systems at multiple geographic locations. For example, an instance of virtual warehouse 1 302 a implements execution node 1 304 a and execution node 2 304 b on one computing platform at a geographic location and implements execution node N 304 c at a different computing platform at another geographic location. Selecting particular computing systems to implement an execution node may depend on various factors, such as the level of resources needed for a particular execution node (e.g., processing resource requirements and cache requirements), the resources available at particular computing systems, communication capabilities of networks within a geographic location or between geographic locations, and which computing systems are already implementing other execution nodes in the virtual warehouse.

A particular execution platform 110 may include any number of virtual warehouses. Additionally, the number of virtual warehouses in a particular execution platform is dynamic, such that new virtual warehouses are created when additional processing and/or caching resources are needed. Similarly, existing virtual warehouses may be deleted when the resources associated with the virtual warehouse are no longer necessary.

In some examples, the virtual warehouses may operate on the same data in database storage 106, but each virtual warehouse has its own execution nodes with independent processing and caching resources. This configuration allows requests on different virtual warehouses to be processed independently and with no interference between the requests. This independent processing, combined with the ability to dynamically add and remove virtual warehouses, supports the addition of new processing capacity for new users without impacting the performance observed by the existing users.

FIG. 4A is a deployment diagram of a computing environment 400 for providing a web application as a first-class database object in accordance with some examples. A data platform 102 utilizes the computing environment 400 to provide a secure framework for a user application 410 to be executed by an execution platform 110 of the data platform 102. The user application 410 and components supporting the user application 410, such as, but not limited to, a Web application engine 408 and a User Defined Function (UDF) server 406, collectively referred to as a “web application” herein, are treated by the data platform 102 as first-class database objects in that can be instantiated using one or more commands within a database query as illustrated by the code fragments.

To create a new web application

CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] WEBAPP [ IF NOT EXISTS ] <Webapp_name> [ VERSIONS ] (versionList) [ WAREHOUSE = <warehouse_name> ] [ COMMENT = ‘<comment_string_literal>’ ] versionList : = versionInfo [, versionInfo ] id = <webapp_version_name> root_location = <app_root> file_path = <file_name>

To drop a web application:

-   -   DROP WEBAPP[IF EXISTS]<webapp_name>

To alter an existing web application

 ALTER WEBAPP [IF EXISTS] <webapp_name> SET  [ WAREHOUSE = <warehouse_name> ]  [ DEFAULT_VERSION = <webapp_version_name> ]  [ COMMENT = ‘<string_literal>’ ]  ALTER WEBAPP [ IF EXISTS] <webapp_name>  ADD [(] versionList [)]  ALTER WEBAPP [IF EXISTS] <webapp_name>  DROP [(]<webapp_version_name> [, <webapp_version_name>...][)]  ALTER WEBAPP [IF EXISTS] <webapp_name> MODIFY  [(] modifyWebappVersionList [)]  modifyWebappVersionList :=  modifyWebappVersionAttr, [, modifyWebappVersionAttr] modifyWebappVersionAttr := [VERSION] <webapp_version_name>  SET { root_location = <app_root> | file_path =  <file_name> }

Where:

<Webapp_name> Specifies the identifier for the web application, unique for the schema it is created in.

<webapp_version_name> Specifies the identifier for the version of the web application.

<app_root> A reference to a stage URL that points to a root of the user application 410. When the user application runs, the files below this app_root will be available to the web application engine 408. Although versions can be in the same stage or data location within the data platform 102, separated only by prefixes it can be useful to have different stages per-version to manage permissions and cleanup better.

<file_name> A path to a user file to run as part of the web application engine 408. This is relative to the <app_root>.

<warehouse_name> A name of a virtual warehouse, such as virtual warehouse 1 302 a of the data platform 102 to run the user application 410.

<comment_string_literal> Comment describing the web user application 410.

A partial list of permissions enforced by the security manager policies 420 and/or the sandbox policies 422 for the user application 410 and its supporting components are described in Table 1 and Table 2:

TABLE 1 Privilege Usage CREATE The ability to create a user application WEBAPP 410 and its associated components in a schema.

TABLE 2 Privilege USAGE Usage Enables hitting the HTTPS endpoint for the user application 410 on the default version. Enables seeing the web application using DESCRIBE or SHOW commands ALL Grant all privileges other than OWNERSHIP [ PRIVILEGES ] OWNERSHIP Grants full control over the web application; required to drop the user application 410. Only a single role can hold this privilege on a specific object at a time

In some examples, there are objects of the data platform 102 that the user application 410 depends on, such as, but not limited to, a storage location or stage for storing files, and a virtual warehouse, such as virtual warehouse 1 302 a, within which the user application 410 is loaded. When creating a user application 410 and its associated components that reference a stage, the user application 410 inherits READ permissions to that stage and USAGE permissions to the virtual warehouse.

In some examples, the web application has direct access to source files that define the operations of the web application, but a user of the web application does not have the same permissions to access the source files. The web application accesses the source files via the stage.

In some examples, if a stage's permissions are changed after a user application 410 is created, such that the owner of the user application 410 no longer has permissions to it, then requests to the user application 410 will fail with an error stating that the user application 410 does not exist. If a Warehouse's permissions are changed after the user application 410 is created, then the logic for the warehouse to use will act as if no warehouse was set.

In some examples, a stage or data location is embedded in the user application 410 or one of its associated components and the permissions to the user application 410 and the permissions of the stage are associated together. In some examples, a user application 410 and its related components may be shared with other owners or users in accordance with permissions stored in the security manager policies 420 and/or sandbox policies 422.

Accordingly, when instantiated, the user application 410 and its supporting components inherit the attributes of a first-class object within a database provided by the data platform 102 including permissions and restrictions that may be utilized by the data platform 102 to manage a database object. In some examples, the user application 410 is provided as a service by the UDF server 406 utilizing the web application engine 408 and can be accessed over a network, such as the Internet, by a web application browser runtime component 404 included in a browser 402 hosted by a client device 112 utilizing protocols that are used to access documents and files on the World Wide Web.

As described in reference to FIG. 2 , the compute service manager 104 implements security protocols that validate communication from the execution platform 110 to validate that the content and context of that communication are consistent with the task(s) known to be assigned to the execution platform 110. For example, the execution platform 110 executing a query A is not allowed to request access to a particular data source (e.g., data storage device 226 or any one of the storage devices in the database storage 106) that is not relevant to query A. In an example, an execution node 424 may need to communicate with a second execution node but the security mechanisms described herein can disallow communication with a third execution node. Moreover, any such illicit communication can be recorded (e.g., in a log 418 or other location). Further, the information stored on a given execution node is restricted to data relevant to the current query and any other data is unusable by destruction or encryption where the key is unavailable.

In some examples, the UDF server 406 and its components, such as the web application engine 408 and the user application 410 are implemented in a particular programming language such as Python, and the like. In some examples, the web application browser runtime component 404 is implemented in a different programming language (e.g., C or C++) than the UDF server 406, which can further improve security of the computing environment 400 by using a different codebase (e.g., one without the same or fewer potential security exploits).

The UDF server 406 receives communications from the web application browser runtime component 404 via the global service process 444 of the data platform 102. The global service process 444 is responsible for receiving requests from the web application browser runtime component 404. The global service process 444 uses components of the compute service manager 104 to perform various authentication tasks including a first level of authorization using an access manager 202 of the compute service manager 104. The UDF server 406 performs tasks including assigning processing threads to execute user code of the user application 410 and returning the results generated by the user application 410 to the web application browser runtime component 404 via the global service process 444.

In some examples, the UDF server 406 executes within a sandbox process 414 as more fully described below. In some examples, the UDF server 406 is implemented in Python interpreted by an interpreter process. In some examples, the UDF server 406 is implemented in another language, such as Java, executed by a virtual machine (JVM). Since the UDF server 406 advantageously executes in a separate process relative to the browser 402, there is a lower risk of malicious manipulation of the user application 410.

Results of performing an operation, among other types of information or messages, can be stored in a log 418 for review and retrieval. In an example, the log 418 can be stored locally in memory at the execution node 424, or at a separate location such as the database storage 106.

In some examples, a security manager 416, can prevent completion of an operation from a user application 410 by throwing an exception (e.g., if the operation is not permitted), or returns (e.g., doing nothing) if the operation is permitted. In an implementation, the security manager 416 is implemented as a security manager object that allows an application to implement a security policy such as a security manager policies 420 and enables the application to determine, before performing a possibly unsafe or sensitive operation, what the operation is and whether it is being attempted in a security context that allows the operation to be performed. The security manager policies 420 can be implemented as a file with permissions that the UDF server 406 is granted. The UDF server 406 therefore can allow or disallow the operation based at least in part on the security policy.

In some examples, the sandbox process 414 reduces the risk of security breaches by restricting the running environment of untrusted applications using security mechanisms such as namespaces and secure computing modes (e.g., using a system call filter to an executing process and its descendants, thus reducing the attack surface of the kernel of a given operating system). Moreover, in an example, the sandbox process 414 is a lightweight process and is optimized (e.g., closely coupled to security mechanisms of a given operating system kernel) to process a database query or other service request in a secure manner within the sandbox environment.

In some examples, the sandbox process 414 can utilize a virtual network connection in order to communicate with other components within the computing environment 400. A specific set of rules can be configured for the virtual network connection with respect to other components of the computing environment 400. For example, such rules for the virtual network connection can be configured for a particular UDF server 406 to restrict the locations (e.g., particular sites on the Internet or components that the UDF server 406 can communicate) that are accessible by operations performed by the UDF server 406. Thus, in this example, the UDF server 406 can be denied access to particular network locations or sites on the Internet.

The sandbox process 414 can be understood as providing a constrained computing environment for a process (or processes) within the sandbox, where these constrained processes can be controlled and restricted to limit access to certain computing resources.

Examples of security mechanisms can include the implementation of namespaces in which each respective group of processes executing within the sandbox environment has access to respective computing resources (e.g., process IDs, hostnames, user IDs, file names, names associated with network access, and inter-process communication) that are not accessible to another group of processes (which may have access to a different group of resources not accessible by the former group of processes), other container implementations, and the like. By having the sandbox process 414 execute as a sub-process, in some examples, latency in processing a given database query can be substantially reduced in comparison with other techniques that may utilize a virtual machine solution by itself.

As further illustrated, the sandbox process 414 can utilize a sandbox policies 422 to enforce a given security policy. The sandbox policies 422 can be a file with information related to a configuration of the sandbox process 414 and details regarding restrictions, if any, and permissions for accessing and utilizing system resources. Example restrictions can include restrictions to network access, or file system access (e.g., remapping file system to place files in different locations that may not be accessible, other files can be mounted in different locations, and the like). The sandbox process 414 restricts the memory and processor (e.g., CPU) usage of the UDF server 406, ensuring that other operations on the same execution node can execute without running out of resources.

The web application browser runtime component 404 provides a frontend for the user application 410. The web application browser runtime component 404 performs browser interactions with the data platform 102 for the user application 410. Components of the computing environment 400 communicate using a communication channel 412 that provides a set of commands that are used for interactions between the user application 410 and the browser 402. The communication channel 412 logically interacts with the user application 410, and physically goes through the layers of the data platform 102 to ensure security restrictions and policies are enforced at each layer. These may include permissions or runtime requirements from the compute service manager 104.

The web application browser runtime component 404 sends back messages that are processed by the execution platform 110 and responded to with a series of forward messages.

The web application engine 408 includes instructions that can be defined by third parties but are run as an application within the execution platform 110. The web application engine 408 provides programming frameworks that users can build applications, such as the user application 410. In some examples, the web application engine 408 is written in Python and is treated by the execution platform 110 as special Python stored procedures. In some examples, the web application engine 408 is written in another language, such as, but not limited to Java, and hosted by a virtual machine within the execution platform 110. In some examples, third parties may build their own web application engines.

The user application 410 comprises an application written by an end user and evaluated by the web application engine 408. In some examples, the user application 410 comprises Python files that are evaluated by a proprietary Python interpreter.

The UDF server 406 is in charge of running UDFs in a controlled execution environment such as the sandbox process 414. In some examples, the UDF server 406 comprises a Python UDF server. In some examples, the UDF server 406 utilizes other languages, such as Java.

In some examples, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identification of an assigned to the UDF server 406 is a unique value that is stable across replications of the UDF server 406. For example, the URL identification is a randomly generated string that is unique within an account of an owner. The URL identification may be created by using a UUID4 and Base64 encoding to give it a more concise representation.

In some examples, a schema object of the data platform 102 is used to define the components of the web application such as, but not limited to, the UDF server 406, the web application engine 408, the user application 410, and the web application browser runtime component 404. The name, network endpoint, permissions and policies are based on this object. In some examples, the schema object includes a particular version of a web application engine 408 to use as well as any resource constraints.

In some examples, a version of a user's code is specified and will associate a named version of a web application that refers to a place on a storage location or stage used by the data platform 102 to run user code.

FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D are interaction and data flow diagrams of the computing environment 400 for providing a web application as a first-class database object in accordance with some examples.

The computing environment 400 utilizes Row Set Operators (RSOs) that run as part of a program in the execution platform 110. An RSOI is an instance of an RSO that operates on a processing thread of the execution platform 110. An RSOI extension function is an RSOI that runs stored procedures. In some examples, the stored procedures are written in Python. In some examples, the stored procedures are written in Java.

The owner role of the database object defines how metadata such as permissions are stored. Permissions are set on the database object define the security can use the RSOI extension function 436, and which role it runs as. Setting these permissions happens when a user defines the database object, and enforcement happens in the web application resource 442 when the browser accesses a URL associated with the web application, and through the role used to run RSOI extension function 436. The web application resource 442 will also start the job, which sets its permissions context. The RSOI extension function 436 operates within that permissions/session context.

In some examples, an owner sets permissions on each of the objects that will be instantiated such as, but not limited to, a UDF server 406, a web application engine 408, and a user application 410.

In some examples, various HTTP responses are set to govern whether the browser security policies are enforced based on permissions defined in the security manager policies 420.

In operation 1, a user uses the browser 402 to communicate a request to the data platform 102 for data of a database object of the data platform 102. The browser 402 hosted by client device 112 uses a Web socket connection to a web application resource 442 to communicate with user application 410 hosted by the data platform 102 that will access the database object. When the web application resource 442 detects that the browser 402 is making the request, the access manager 202 of the compute service manager 104 of the data platform 102 authorizes access to the user application 410 based on a set of security policies stored on data storage device 206.

The web application browser runtime component 404 pulls back messages off the web socket and issues appropriate commands. If there is no current session having an instance of the web application engine 408, the web application browser runtime component 404 verifies the request has permissions to use the user application 410 based on the security manager policies 420, then requests start of a job by the UDF server 406. An initial execution plan starts an instance of a web application engine 408 for the job using a security context of the user application 410. The web application engine 408 will be instantiated based on the security manager policies 420 and the sandbox policies 422 enforced respectively by the security manager 416 and the sandbox process 414, and the event is logged into the log 418. After there is a session of the web application engine 408 started, the web application engine 408 sends commands to a query coordinator 430.

In operation 2, the job has the query coordinator 430 associated with the job. From this point on, communication to the web application engine 408 occurs by adding query coordinator events of type “application interaction” to the query coordinator 430. This results in a run request being enqueued. The query coordinator event also has a reference to a stream it can send forward messages through to get to the browser 402. That way the query coordinator 430 can get the response events and pass them directly back to the browser 402.

In operation 3, an application request queue 426 is provided. The application request queue 426 is an in-memory queue that back messages are pushed onto. In some examples, the application request queue 426 is in memory to ensure the connection at operation 4 always goes back to the same global service instance as the query coordinator 430 is on. In some examples, in the case of a global service failure, it is permissible to lose the messages and have the web application browser runtime component 404 re-establish the state through a new run request.

In operation 4, an RSOI extension function 436 launches a special stored procedure that runs for a long time. This stored procedure runs in the security context that was configured for the objects that will be instantiated on the execution node 424 based on the security manager policies 420 and the sandbox policies 422. The stored procedure creates a UDF server 406 that securely runs scripts in the locked down environment of the execution node 424 of the execution platform 110. The RSOI extension function 436 starts the web application engine 408 based on the stored procedure through the UDF server 406 using RPC calls. The RSOI extension function 436 calls an “execute procedure” with function information that will tell the stored procedure of the web application engine 408 not to terminate. The web application engine 408 is instantiated based on the security manager policies 420 and the sandbox policies 422 enforced, respectively, by the security manager 416 and the sandbox process 414 during a verification process, and the event is logged into the log 418. The procedure of the web application engine 408 connects to a stream application requests RPC endpoint on the UDF server 406 and issues an initialize application message. That message will be used to bootstrap the web application engine 408 with the appropriate policy and file information to run the user application 410. This information comes down as part of the execution plan of operation 1 that starts the user application 410. The RSOI extension function 436 connects to a web application interaction channel 434 endpoint in an execution platform resource 432, and processes messages that come in through that channel. The UDF server 406 is then able to run the web application engine 408 and the user application 410 using the special stored procedure to proxy communications from the browser in a low-latency and efficient way.

In some examples, network endpoints are determined based on the account locator based URLs, thus providing a domain for owner's account and each web application associated with the owner's account to act as a browser security boundary. In additional examples, components of an URL identifier are unique, an unguessable numbers. The URL identifications are stable across renames and replication to other accounts. A user of the browser 402 may access the URL directly. To do so, they will be required to be logged in to the data platform 102, and they will need usage privileges on the user application 410.

The messages coming from the execution platform resource 432 are user driven interactions that come from either using or editing an application. The messages that go to the UDF server 406 are defined in a document that defines the UDF application requests. For application user requests, the RSOI extension function 436: 1. Acts as a proxy server and communicates back message requests to an appropriate UDF server 406, and leaves them to be processed by the web application engine 408; 2. Receives an update file message request that commands the RSOI extension function 436 to: a. Find files that need to be updated; b. Issue an update file start command; c. Follow with the update file commands needed to update the appropriate files used by the web application engine 408; and d. Generate an update files end message.

All access to the execution platform 110 such as, but not limited to, data stored in the database storage 106 and additional functions and procedures executed by the execution platform 110, by the user application 410 using the web application engine 408 is verified by the security manager 416 and the sandbox process 414 using the security manager policies 420 and the sandbox policies 422, respectively. This allows the execution platform 110 to provide services to the browser 402 by the user application 410 without requiring the data to move between a secured location and an unsecured location with the execution platform 110, thus enhancing scalability and security. In some examples, for the HTTP channel for an “execution platform resource” command, ContentType=application/octet-stream is used, with the Protobuf protocol being used in both directions. In some examples, the Protobuf protocol is used in both directions in a coded fashion that will allow pushing multiple messages down a stream without having to close the TCP connection and re-issue a request.

In operation 5, in reference to FIG. 4D, the UDF server 406 manages the lifecycle of the web application engine 408. The UDF server 406 launches and then manages requests that come in through a stream application requests endpoint. With reference to FIG. 4D, in some examples, there are two basic types of messages: application user requests 440 and application control plane requests 438. Application user requests 440 get passed directly into a run method for the web application engine 408. Application control plane requests 438 are directed to the UDF server 406 to do some system operation, such as but not limited to, updating files, initializing applications or shutting things down.

In operation 6, a web application procedure includes additional lifecycle functions that get called. An example web application procedure is partially illustrated in the code fragment:

 // Called when InitializeApp message comes in  def start(webApp: WebApp, config: ConfigurationParameters)  // Main function for processing app requests.  // Called for each BackMsg that comes in  def run(webApp: WebApp, message: BackMsg, responseQueue queue<ForwardMsg>, sessionCtx: SessionCtx)  // Called when the files are updated   def beforeFilesChanged(webApp: WebApp, files: List<Files>)   def afterFilesChanged(webApp: WebApp, files: List<Files>)  // Called before the app ends  def stop(webApp: WebApp)

In some examples, the UDF server 406 knows what functions associate with which operations by being specified in a stored procedure Data Persistence Object (DPO) passed down as part of starting the web application engine 408. In some examples, the UDF server 406 knows what functions associate with which operations as a stored procedure DPO has a handler as a start function, and a return type of the start function returns a table of functions that specifies other functions. In some examples, the UDF server 406 knows what functions associate with which operations as a stored procedure DPO has a handler as the start function, and annotations are provided that the UDF server 406 can look for to find other functions. In some examples, a new property on a stored procedure marks the stored procedure as a web application engine 408. When this is set, a handler calls a function that returns a table of the functions that map to the different application lifecycle events above (e.g., run, files changed, etc.)

In operation 7, responses from the UDF server 406 come back through an execution platform resource. When the user application 410 adds messages to an application response queue 428, the UDF server 406 will take those responses and pass them back through the RPC endpoint to the RSOI extension function 436, which will then send them down a long-poll HTTP connection to the web-app-interaction-channel in the execution platform resource. The execution platform resource puts the responses in the application response queue 428 and notifies the query coordinator 430.

In operation 8, the query coordinator 430 sends the response back to the browser 402. The query coordinator 430 picks up the events, filters out any messages that violate policy (e.g. unrestricted JS or HTML). As the query coordinator 430 was already provided with the response channel when it got the query coordinator event, so it uses this to send back a response. In some examples, when it is assured that the web socket is in a same global service as the query coordinator 430, the execution platform resource sends the request itself. In some examples, when it cannot be assured that the web socket is in the same global service as the query coordinator 430, the query coordinator 430 performs the operation of sending back the response as there is already functionality to find the right global service instance for the query coordinator 430.

In operation 5, in reference to FIG. 4D, the UDF server 406 manages the lifecycle of the web application engine 408. The UDF server 406 launches and then manages requests that come in through a stream application requests endpoint. With reference to FIG. 4D, in some examples, there are two basic types of messages: application user requests 440 and application control plane requests 438. Application user requests 440 get passed directly into a run method for the web application engine 408. Application control plane requests 438 are directed to the UDF server 406 to do some system operation, such as but not limited to, updating files, initializing applications or shutting things down.

In operation 6, a web application procedure includes additional lifecycle functions that get called. An example web application procedure is partially illustrated in the code fragment:

// Called when InitializeApp message comes in def start(webApp: WebApp, config: ConfigurationParameters) // Main function for processing app requests. // Called for each BackMsg that comes in def run(webApp: WebApp, message: BackMsg, responseQueue queue<ForwardMsg>, sessionCtx: SessionCtx) // Called when the files are updated  def beforeFilesChanged(webApp: WebApp, files: List<Files>)  def afterFilesChanged(webApp: WebApp, files: List<Files>) // Called before the app ends def stop(webApp: WebApp)

In some examples, the UDF server 406 knows what functions associate with which operations by being specified in a stored procedure data persistence object, and passed down as part of starting the web application engine 408. In some examples, the UDF server 406 knows what functions associate with which operations as a stored procedure DPO has a handler as a start function, and a return type of the start function returns a table of functions that specifies other functions. In some examples, the UDF server 406 knows what functions associate with which operations as a stored procedure DPO has a handler as the start function, and annotations are provided that the UDF server 406 can look for to find other functions. In some examples, a new property on a stored procedure marks the stored procedure as a web application engine 408. When this is set, a handler calls a function that returns a table of the functions that map to the different application lifecycle events above (e.g. run, files changed, etc.)

In operation 7, responses from the UDF server 406 come back through an execution platform resource. When the user application 410 adds messages to an application response queue 428, the UDF server 406 will take those responses and pass them back through the RPC endpoint to the RSOI extension function 436, which will then send them down a long-poll HTTP connection to the web-app-interaction-channel the execution platform resource. The execution platform resource puts the responses in the application response queue 428, and notifies the query coordinator 430.

In operation 8, the query coordinator 430 sends the response back to the browser 402. The query coordinator 430 picks up the events, filters out any messages that violate policy (e.g. unrestricted JS or HTML). As the query coordinator 430 was already provided with the response channel when it got the query coordinator event, so it uses this to send back a response. In some examples, when it is assured that the web socket is in the same global service as the query coordinator 430, the execution platform resource sends the request itself. In some examples, when it cannot be assured that the web socket is in the same global service as the query coordinator 430, the query coordinator 430 performs the operation of sending back the response as there is already functionality to find the right global service instance for the query coordinator 430.

FIG. 5 is a deployment diagram for a computing environment 500 of a data platform 102 providing a unified security context 502 for a development and use of a user application 410 in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure. The computing environment 500 supports the unified security context 502 for components of the data platform 102 that provide a software development environment for developing source code, such as user application source code 510 of a user application, such as user application 410. The computing environment 500 further supports, as part of the unified security context 502, a production environment for the provision of the user application 410 as part of a web application object that allows users to access resources of the data platform 102, such as database objects 508 stored in a database storage 106.

An access manager 202 authorizes access to components and objects of the unified security context 502 based on privileges specified in security policies 232 comprising one or more security policies for the components and objects within the unified security context 502. The security policies 232 include, but are not limited to, security policies applied to the user application source code 510 stored on a stage of the data platform 102 and the database objects 508 stored in the database storage 106, and security policies applied to the usage and sharing of the user application 410. The security policies 232 further include security manager policies 420 enforced by the security manager 416 and sandbox policies 422 enforced by the sandbox process 414 as described in reference to FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D.

The computing environment 500 includes a data explorer 228 used by users to access the database objects 508 stored in the database storage 106. The data explorer 228 comprises a visualizer 506 that a user may use to access and display data of the database objects 508. The data explorer 228 further comprises an editor that a user may use to create, edit, and/or store database queries and source code for software, such as user application source code 510 for the user application 410, used to access and modify data of the database objects 508. The access manager 202 uses one or more security policies of the security policies 232 to determine whether a user is authorized to use the data explorer 228 to access a component or database object of the data platform 102 that is encompassed by the unified security context 502. Such users include, but are not limited to, a user of the data platform 102 who is an owner of the user application 410 and/or the database objects 508, a user within a same account of the owner, a user of another account that is different from the account of the owner, an external system outside of the data platform 102, etc.

The computing environment 500 further includes an application and data manager 230 that allows users to specify which other entities may share usage of the user application 410 and may access and/or modify data of the database objects 508. The access manager 202 uses one or more security policies of the security policies 232 to determine whether a user is authorized to use the application and data manager 230 to access the security policies 232 in order to set security policies that allow another user to access a component or database object of the data platform 102 encompassed by the unified security context 502. Such users include, but are not limited to, a user of the data platform 102 who is an owner of the user application 410 and/or the database objects 508, a user within a same account of the owner, a user of another account that is different from the account of the owner, an external system outside of the data platform 102, etc.

The sandbox process 414, security manager 416, UDF server 406, and web application engine 408 operate to provide a secure execution environment for the user application 410 as described herein in reference to FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D. The sandbox process 414 and the security manager 416 use their respective security policies included in the security policies 232 to provide access to the user application 410 by a user using a browser 402 having a web application browser runtime component 404 and hosted by a client device 112 as described herein in reference to FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D.

In some examples, the access manager 202 uses one or more security policies of the security policies 232 to determine whether a user is allowed to access the user application source code 510 using an editor provided by a web application object that provides an external editor (not shown). The external editor is provided in accordance with the methodologies described in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D. In some examples, a user application of the web application object comprises an editor that is executed by the execution platform 110 with a UI of the editor being provided by a web application browser runtime component of a browser hosted by a client device. In additional examples, a user application of the web application object comprises a proxy server executed by the execution platform 110 and a web application browser runtime component of a browser of a client device comprises an editor that accesses the user application source code 510 through the user application acting as the proxy server.

FIG. 6 is an activity diagram illustrating a method 600 of developing and deploying a user application 410 in a unified security context 502 by a data platform 102 in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

In operation 602, the data platform 102 provides to a first user 614 an editor 504 that the first user 614 uses to create, edit, and/or store user application source code 510 of a user application 410 based on security policies 232. Access to the user application source code 510 by the first user 614 using the editor 504 is determined by an access manager 202 that authorizes the first user 614 to use the editor to create, edit, and/or store the user application source code 510 on a database storage 106 of the data platform 102 based on the security policies 232.

In operation 604, the first user 614 uses an application and data manager 230 to set sharing and usage privileges for database objects 508 and the user application 410 by setting privileges stored in the security policies 232. Access by the user to the security policies 232 using the application and data manager 230 is determined by the access manager 202 that authorizes the first user 614 to create, edit, and store the sharing and usage privileges based on the security policies 232. The privileges permit authorization of additional users and systems, such as second user 616, to use the user application 410 to access data of the database objects 508 and other components of the data platform 102. The sharing and usage privileges are stored in the security policies 232.

In operation 606, the data platform 102 deploys the user application 410 thus making the user application 410 available to one or more users, such as second user 616.

In operation 608, the data platform 102 receives a request from the second user 616 to access components and/or data of database objects located on the data platform 102. In response, the data platform 102 provides the user application 410 to the second user 616 based on the security policies 232. Provision of the user application 410 to the second user 616 is determined by the access manager 202 that authorizes the second user 616 to use the user application 410 to access components and database objects 508 of the data platform 102 based on the security policies 232.

In operation 610, the user application 410 accesses components of the data platform 102 and data of the database objects 508 based on the security policies 232. Interactions of the user application 410 with components and database objects 508 of the data platform 102 are authorized in part by a security manager 416 based on security manager policies 420 of the security policies 232. In addition, the interactions of the user application 410 with the components and database objects of the data platform 102 are authorized in part by a sandbox process 414 based on sandbox policies 422 included in the security policies 232.

In operation 612, the user application 410 provides data of the database objects 508 to the second user 616. Provision of the data of the database objects 508 to the second user 616 via the user application 410 is determined by the access manager 202 that authorizes the second user 616 to use the user application 410 to access components and database objects 508 of the data platform 102 based on the security policies 232.

In some examples, the user application source code 510 is accessed and edited using an editor provided by a web application object (not shown).

In some examples, a user application 410 permits access to the data platform 102 by an external system. For example, the user application data platform 102 acts as a proxy server allowing the external system to access components and data database objects 508 of the data platform.

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine 700 in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions may be executed for causing the machine 700 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, according to examples. Specifically, FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine 700 in the example form of a computer system, within which instructions 702 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code) for causing the machine 700 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. For example, the instructions 702 may cause the machine 700 to execute any one or more operations of any one or more of the methods described herein. In this way, the instructions 702 transform a general, non-programmed machine into a particular machine 700 (e.g., the compute service manager 104, the execution platform 110, and the data storage devices 1 to N of database storage 106) that is specially configured to carry out any one of the described and illustrated functions in the manner described herein.

In alternative examples, the machine 700 operates as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 700 may operate in the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine 700 may comprise, but not be limited to, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a smart phone, a mobile device, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing the instructions 702, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to be taken by the machine 700. Further, while only a single machine 700 is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include a collection of machines that individually or jointly execute the instructions 702 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The machine 700 includes processors 704, memory 706, and I/O components 708 configured to communicate with each other such as via a bus 710. In some examples, the processors 704 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) may include, for example, multiple processors as exemplified by processor 712 and a processor 714 that may execute the instructions 702. The term “processor” is intended to include multi-core processors that may comprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that may execute instructions 702 contemporaneously. Although FIG. 7 shows multiple processors 704, the machine 700 may include a single processor with a single core, a single processor with multiple cores (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors with a single core, multiple processors with multiple cores, or any combination thereof.

The memory 706 may include a main memory 732, a static memory 716, and a storage unit 718 including a machine storage medium 734, accessible to the processors 704 such as via the bus 710. The main memory 732, the static memory 716, and the storage unit 718 store the instructions 702 embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 702 may also reside, completely or partially, within the main memory 732, within the static memory 716, within the storage unit 718, within at least one of the processors 704 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or any suitable combination thereof, during execution thereof by the machine 700.

The input/output (I/O) components 708 include components to receive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information, exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/O components 708 that are included in a particular machine 700 will depend on the type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobile phones will likely include a touch input device or other such input mechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely not include such a touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components 708 may include many other components that are not shown in FIG. 7 . The I/O components 708 are grouped according to functionality merely for simplifying the following discussion and the grouping is in no way limiting. In various examples, the I/O components 708 may include output components 720 and input components 722. The output components 720 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as a plasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), acoustic components (e.g., speakers), other signal generators, and so forth. The input components 722 may include alphanumeric input components (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input components), point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or another pointing instrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touch screen that provides location and/or force of touches or touch gestures, or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., a microphone), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies. The I/O components 708 may include communication components 724 operable to couple the machine 700 to a network 736 or devices 726 via a coupling 730 and a coupling 728, respectively. For example, the communication components 724 may include a network interface component or another suitable device to interface with the network 736. In further examples, the communication components 724 may include wired communication components, wireless communication components, cellular communication components, and other communication components to provide communication via other modalities. The devices 726 may be another machine or any of a wide variety of peripheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a universal serial bus (USB)). For example, as noted above, the machine 700 may correspond to any one of the compute service manager 104, the execution platform 110, and the devices 726 may include the data storage device 226 or any other computing device described herein as being in communication with the data platform 102 or the database storage 106.

The various memories (e.g., 706, 716, 732, and/or memory of the processor(s) 704 and/or the storage unit 718) may store one or more sets of instructions 702 and data structures (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. These instructions 702, when executed by the processor(s) 704, cause various operations to implement the disclosed examples.

Described implementations of the subject matter can include one or more features, alone or in combination as illustrated below by way of example.

Example 1 is a computer-implemented method includes authorizing, by one or more processors, a first user to use an editor to access source code of a user application based on security policies of a security context. The computer-implemented method also includes authorizing, by one or more processors, the first user to use an application and data manager to set usage privileges for a second user to use the user application based on the security policies of the security context. The computer-implemented method also includes providing, by one or more processors, the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context by performing operations includes instantiating a User Defined Function (UDF) server within the security context, instantiating an application engine of the UDF server within the security context, instantiating the user application as an application of the application engine within the security context, and authorizing access by the user application to databased on the security policies of the security context.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the user application is accessed over a network by a user using a browser having a web application browser runtime component.

In Example 3, the subject matter of any of Example 1 and 2, wherein the UDF server authorizes operations based on the security policies.

In Example 4, the subject matter of any of Example 1 to 3, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further includes executing the UDF server within a sandbox process that enforces the security policies. Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

In Example 5, the subject matter of any of Example 1 to 4, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further includes validating communications between the user application and the web application browser runtime component based on the security policies.

In Example 6, the subject matter of any of Example 1 to 5, wherein the UDF server is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any of Example 1 to 6, wherein the application engine is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.

In Example 8, the subject matter of any of Example 1 to 7, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further includes communicating by the sandbox process with components of a data platform via a virtual network.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any of Example 1 to 8, where providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further includes restricting an instance of the UDF server from communicating with a location via the virtual network based on a set of rules unique to the instance of the UDF server.

In Example 10, the subject matter of any of Example 1 to 9 wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further includes assigning a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to an object of the UDF server where the URL is unique within an account of an owner of the UDF server. Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Example 11 is an apparatus to implement any of Examples 1 to 10.

Example 12 is a machine-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to implement any of Examples 1 to 10.

Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.

As used herein, the terms “machine-storage medium,” “device-storage medium,” and “computer-storage medium” mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure. The terms refer to a single or multiple storage devices and/or media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store executable instructions and/or data. The terms shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media, including memory internal or external to processors. Specific examples of machine-storage media, computer-storage media, and/or device-storage media include non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The terms “machine-storage media,” “computer-storage media,” and “device-storage media” specifically exclude carrier waves, modulated data signals, and other such media, at least some of which are covered under the term “signal medium” discussed below.

In various examples, one or more portions of the network 736 may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local-area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan-area network (MAN), the Internet, a portion of the Internet, a portion of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a plain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network, another type of network, or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, the network 736 or a portion of the network 736 may include a wireless or cellular network, and the coupling 730 may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) connection, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) connection, or another type of cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, the coupling 730 may implement any of a variety of types of data transfer technology, such as Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology, third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) including 3G, fourth generation wireless (4G) networks, fifth generation wireless (5G) networks, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, others defined by various standard-setting organizations, other long-range protocols, or other data transfer technology.

The instructions 702 may be transmitted or received over the network 736 using a transmission medium via a network interface device (e.g., a network interface component included in the communication components 724) and utilizing any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)). Similarly, the instructions 702 may be transmitted or received using a transmission medium via the coupling 728 (e.g., a peer-to-peer coupling) to the devices 726. The terms “transmission medium” and “signal medium” mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure. The terms “transmission medium” and “signal medium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying the instructions 702 for execution by the machine 700, and include digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of such software. Hence, the terms “transmission medium” and “signal medium” shall be taken to include any form of modulated data signal, carrier wave, and so forth. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.

The various operations of example methods described herein may be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that are temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured to perform the relevant operations. Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partially processor-implemented. For example, at least some of the operations of the methodologies disclosed herein may be performed by one or more processors. The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed among the one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine, but also deployed across a number of machines. In some examples, the processor or processors may be located in a single location (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or a server farm), while in other examples the processors may be distributed across a number of locations.

Although the examples of the present disclosure have been described with reference to specific examples, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these examples without departing from the broader scope of the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof show, by way of illustration, and not of limitation, specific examples in which the subject matter may be practiced. The examples illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other examples may be used and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various examples is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended; that is, a system, device, article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim is still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim.

Such examples of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “example” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific examples shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various examples. Combinations of the above examples, and other examples not specifically described herein, will be apparent, to those of skill in the art, upon reviewing the above description. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A data platform comprising: one or more processors; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the data platform to perform operations comprising: authorizing a first user to use an editor to access source code of a user application based on security policies of a security context; authorizing the first user to use an application and data manager to set usage privileges for a second user to use the user application based on the security policies of the security context; and providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context by performing operations comprising: instantiating a User Defined Function (UDF) server within the security context; instantiating an application engine of the UDF server within the security context; instantiating the user application as an application of the application engine within the security context; and authorizing access by the user application to databased on the security policies of the security context.
 2. The data platform of claim 1, wherein the user application is accessed over a network by a user using a browser having a web application browser runtime component.
 3. The data platform of claim 2, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: validating communications between the user application and the web application browser runtime component based on the security policies.
 4. The data platform of claim 2, wherein the UDF server is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.
 5. The data platform of claim 2, wherein the application engine is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.
 6. The data platform of claim 1, wherein the UDF server authorizes operations based on the security policies.
 7. The data platform of claim 1, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: executing the UDF server within a sandbox process that enforces the security policies.
 8. The data platform of claim 7, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: communicating by the sandbox process with components of the data platform via a virtual network.
 9. The data platform of claim 8, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: restricting an instance of the UDF server from communicating with a location via the virtual network based on a set of rules unique to the instance of the UDF server.
 10. The data platform of claim 8, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: assigning a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to an object of the UDF server where the URL is unique within an account of an owner of the UDF server.
 11. A computer-implemented method comprising: authorizing, by one or more processors, a first user to use an editor to access source code of a user application based on security policies of a security context; authorizing, by one or more processors, the first user to use an application and data manager to set usage privileges for a second user to use the user application based on the security policies of the security context; and providing, by one or more processors, the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context by performing operations comprising: instantiating a User Defined Function (UDF) server within the security context; instantiating an application engine of the UDF server within the security context; instantiating the user application as an application of the application engine within the security context; and authorizing access by the user application to databased on the security policies of the security context.
 12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the user application is accessed over a network by a user using a browser having a web application browser runtime component.
 13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: validating communications between the user application and the web application browser runtime component based on the security policies.
 14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the UDF server is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.
 15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the application engine is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.
 16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the UDF server authorizes operations based on the security policies.
 17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: executing the UDF server within a sandbox process that enforces the security policies.
 18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: communicating by the sandbox process with components of a data platform via a virtual network.
 19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: restricting an instance of the UDF server from communicating with a location via the virtual network based on a set of rules unique to the instance of the UDF server.
 20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: assigning a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to an object of the UDF server where the URL is unique within an account of an owner of the UDF server.
 21. A computer-storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, configure the machine to perform operations comprising: authorizing a first user to use an editor to access source code of a user application based on security policies of a security context; authorizing the first user to use an application and data manager to set usage privileges for a second user to use the user application based on the security policies of the security context; and providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context by performing operations comprising: instantiating a User Defined Function (UDF) server within the security context; instantiating an application engine of the UDF server within the security context; instantiating the user application as an application of the application engine within the security context; and authorizing access by the user application to databased on the security policies of the security context.
 22. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 21, wherein the user application is accessed over a network by a user using a browser having a web application browser runtime component.
 23. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 22, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: validating communications between the user application and the web application browser runtime component based on the security policies.
 24. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 22, wherein the UDF server is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.
 25. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 22, wherein the application engine is written in a first language and the web application browser runtime component is written in a second language.
 26. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 21, wherein the UDF server authorizes operations based on the security policies.
 27. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 21, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: executing the UDF server within a sandbox process that enforces the security policies.
 28. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 27, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: communicating by the sandbox process with components of a data platform via a virtual network.
 29. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 28, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: restricting an instance of the UDF server from communicating with a location via the virtual network based on a set of rules unique to the instance of the UDF server.
 30. The computer-storage medium comprising instructions of claim 28, wherein providing the user application to the second user based on the security policies of the security context further comprises: assigning a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to an object of the UDF server where the URL is unique within an account of an owner of the UDF server. 